The mountains of Western North Carolina
are a bird watcher's paradise and since they cover regions of
unspoiled territory, farmlands and woodlands, seeing birds is no
problem but finding the best bird watching sites can be a bit
tricky. The best resource to solve this dilemma is the NC
Wildlife Resources Commission
North Carolina Birding Trail.
The trail is divided into three
sections with the Mountains section obviously covering our region.
From their website you may order trail guides which will help you
greatly in planning your outings. The trail physically links
great bird watching sites and birders with communities, businesses
and other local historical and educational attractions. Efforts to
develop the North Carolina Birding Trail began in October 2003. As
of summer 2009, the Trail is now complete across the entire state -
coastal plain, piedmont, and mountain regions.

In Asheville, the
North Carolina Arboretum (a site on the North Carolina Birding
Trail) offers great bird watching, as does the
Blue Ridge Parkway which runs through Asheville. The
Western North Carolina Nature Center, located in Asheville, is
also a place of interest if you are a bird watcher. In north
Asheville, off of Merrimon Avenue, is the Beaver Lake Bird
Sanctuary, known locally as a great bird watching site also. From
downtown follow Merrimon Avenue north about two miles, and begin
watching for the Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary on your left. After you
pass the North Asheville Public Library, look for stone pillars at a
pair of driveways leading to the Sanctuary parking lot.

In Hendersonville,
one of the best sites for bird watching is
Jackson Park, arguably one of the finest migration spots in
North Carolina, with a wide range of habitats being represented in
the park's 317 acres. In late September it is possible to see over
70 bird species as they pass through the park on their way south.
Address: 801 Glover Street, Hendersonville NC 28792Telephone:828-697-4884Directions: From I-26 Eastbound from Asheville and take U.S.
64 West exit (Exit # 18 B ) towards downtown Hendersonville .
Continue through the traffic light at end of exit ramp onto 4
Seasons Boulevard (U.S. 64) for 1.6 miles (passing 4 more traffic
lights). After a wetland area on the left, turn left at the 5th
traffic light (Harris Street). Go 0.2 mile to stop sign at end of
street. Turn left onto E. 4th Avenue, enter park and follow road to
Administration Building (red-brick house on left) and parking.